Archives For October 2013

Work is teleological. It has an end–or better said–a purpose. We do not labor for the sake of laboring; rather, we labor for the sake of improving ourselves and for the sake of participating in divine creativity. If only every company would take this message to heart!

Employers and employees should ask themselves a few questions routinely to ensure that they are on the right path:

1) Does my work contribute toward my dignity and toward the dignity of those who consume my product?

2) Do I recognize that my ability to labor was originally intended to be a gift from God, who asked our ancestors to “dress paradise”?

3) Does my work unite me with the labor of Christ, who suffered for the benefit of all?

Let Jesus be at the center of our labors as students or as members of the workforce. May our work in the vineyard of the Lord align with God’s salvific will for humanity.

“The LORD is a God of justice, who knows no favorites.Though not unduly partial toward the weak, yet he hears the cry of the oppressed” (Sir. 35:15-16)

Jesus’s love is impartial. He touched the lives of the poor and the rich alike. First, think of the lepers, the paralytics, and the dead. Then, think of the tax collectors and the wealthy young man. By the world’s standards, these people are on different levels; by God’s standards, love ought to abound in the hearts of everyone.

Our Lord said that only the sick need a doctor, but aren’t we all sick? Don’t we all have wounds that fester within our hearts, wounds that cannot be healed unless we reach out to our Savior? No one is worthy to stand before the Judge on his or her own behalf. We all are in need of mercy and grace if we aim to obtain eternal life.

However, the fact that we are all in need of God’s help when we stand before him should not prevent us from improving the current conditions on Earth. As Pope Francis repeatedly tells us, we should not be partakers in the “globalization of indifference.” Those of us who have the means to improve the lives of the poor (and those who don’t, as well) must act. We have a choice: either we can sit contentedly on our thrones of security and wealth, or we can lower ourselves in humility, acting willingly as servants.

Who are the weak in our communities? How can we be the hands, the feet, and the ears of God for those people? Our Father hears the cry of the oppressed, but do we hear that cry? Let’s make a step toward justice today. Let’s get to know our communities so well that we can work for solutions that will last.

May Jesus Christ strengthen us as we labor with him for justice and peace.

“Error never shows itself in its naked reality, in order not to be discovered. On the contrary, it dresses elegantly, so that the unwary may be led to believe that it is more truthful than truth itself” (St. Irenaeus of Lyon).

Throughout the centuries of Christianity’s existence, God has called the Church to defend the truths of the gospel against heresy. Heresy is a problem because it divides the unity of our Lord’s body. It creates schism, and it promotes the dissemination of misunderstanding. Heresy gives non-believers the impression (perhaps the truthful impression) that Christians do not have the necessary humility to cooperate with each other. In sum, heresy destroys the justice and the peace of God’s kingdom.

How are we to counteract the heresies of our day? I have a few suggestions, and I’d love to hear what you think, too.

1) “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged” (Matthew 7:1). Before we even begin to critically question the beliefs of others, we must examine our own beliefs and our own intentions. For instance, I ask myself, “Am I arguing for the sake of argument, for my own sake, or for Christ’s sake?” An honest answer to this question may reveal that we need to speak to Christ about a given situation before we take action. If it is not God’s will for us to intervene, then we should not intervene. However, it may be the case that our Lord is telling us to stand up for our beliefs, in which case we should prepare ourselves in prayer and then respond according to God’s intentions for us.

2) “When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom” (1 Cor. 2:1). Many times, adherents to heresy will disguise their false teachings beneath a web of eloquent speech or sentimentalism. Typically, the opposing argument will run in one of these two directions. If the other person uses big words or subtle arguments, then try to lead that person to deconstruct his or her argument to its roots. In this manner the bare fallacies will reveal themselves. One way of facilitating this deconstruction is by asking lots of questions. These questions may prompt him or her to reconsider a given premise. Additionally, a thorough round of questioning will demonstrate whether or not the “opposition” truly understands the issue at hand. If the other person resorts to a sentimental interpretation to support his or her false beliefs, then remind that person that religious truths are not dependent on feelings. Whether I feel God or whether I do not, God is present with me. Whether I feel justified or whether I do not, God alone will decide whether or not I am justified. Feelings are not enough. Truth transcends our feelings.

3) “Love is patient” (1 Cor. 13:4). Reaching a resolution or a conversion may take time. Do not lose heart. Seek knowledge in the faith, pray for humility and for the other person, and persevere in the hope that comes from God. Heresy is a serious problem, so it requires a serious plan of action. In time, the truth of God will prevail, but we must trust that he will do the heavy lifting in his own good time.

May God bless all who defend the faith. May he ignite a passion for truth within the hearts of his chosen people.

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Have you ever wondered why Jesus says both “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12) and “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14)? I’ve been considering this dilemma, and I’ve come to an interesting conclusion. Jesus is the light that guides us from darkness into eternal life, yet we can participate in that light because of our Lord’s sacrifice on the cross. St. Paul writes, “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). To the extent that we are crucified with Jesus, we can be the light of the world due to his living in us. Truly, God’s light shines in us and out of us if we let Jesus into our hearts. This ability is certainly one of God’s most profound graces.

Lord Jesus, dwell in the deepest center of our souls so that we can glorify You in our good works. Let the light that you have given to the world shine forth in us. Help us to avoid the pride that we emanate when we consider our good works to be only ours and not yours. Lead everyone to your divine life through the mercy and the humility of the Catholic Church. Amen.

Though there are countless reasons why I love the Catholic Church, I’ll take a moment to list the big four.

1) Her Oneness: The Catholic Church is one ecclesiastical body led by one Lord, Jesus Christ. She professes one faith, regardless of the direction that the wind blows.

2) Her Holiness: Despite the fact that her members are sinners, the Church seeks holiness and perfection, which are primarily given by the grace of God.

3) Her Universality: Containing around one billion members does not take away from the Church’s unity. She counts her diverse sons and daughters as equal in dignity no matter what.

4) Her Apostolic Nature: Jesus did not leave His followers with a Book but rather with a Church of believers. Our Lord sent the twelve apostles to preach the gospel message to all nations. Their authority is inseparable from the Bible that they approved for study, for Truth, and for spiritual growth.

May God bless His Holy Church and all of her members! May the Church grow in numbers and in faith until the end of time!